Temporal behavior of the laser pulse for intracavity optical parametric oscillator

We describe a compact, end-pumped all-solid-state, and Q-switched intracavity optical parametric oscillator (OPO). With this design, the relaxation oscillation type of multi-pulses produced in the intracavity OPO is eliminated. The intracavity OPO is based on periodically poled RbTiOAsO4 (PPRTA) as the nonlinear material and is pumped by a compact diode-pumped Yb: YAG Q-switched laser at a wavelength of 1.030 mu m. The pulse width (FWHM) is about 11 ns at the full pump power for both the signal and idler pulses. Output energies of 384 mu J at idler wavelength and 615 mu J at signal wavelength are obtained. We demonstrate a Q-switched IPOPO oscillator that operates the signal and idler wavelengths without relaxation oscillation type multi-pulses and with fast wavelength tuning ability for both signal and idler wavelength. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.